CarGene
Kenya Nakamura

Kenya Nakamura

ToyotaDevelopment lead

Developed the first Crown and established the chief engineer system in Japanese car development

Timeline

  1. 1938

    Joined

    Toyota Motor Corporation Machine Tool Unit, Body Production Section, Koromo Plant

  2. 1952

    Deputy General Manager, Body Plant

  3. 1953

    Engineering DepartmentChief engineer, vehicle development

  4. 1955
    Crown 1st generation
    Crown 1st generation

    1955–1962Development lead

    An unusual pick from production

    Nakamura, then deputy general manager of the body plant, was asked by Eiji Toyoda, the director in charge of engineering, to lead development of a full-fledged passenger car the company was about to develop. He asked whether the major shareholders had agreed, was told of course they had, and accepted. It was an unusual appointment of a production man as development lead. He saw it through from market research and design to preparations for the start of production, and led the first Crown to success.

    Coach doors a bride can get into

    The first Crown's rear-hinged coach doors came from Nakamura's view that a bride in a traditional bunkin takashimada hairstyle had to be able to get in. Early in development the doors did not close well, and subordinates including Tatsuo Hasegawa opposed them on safety grounds, but Nakamura pushed through their adoption.

  5. 1962
    Crown 2nd generation
    Crown 2nd generation

    1962–1967Development lead

  6. 1980

    LeftToyota

Connections

    Kenya Nakamura

    Kenya Nakamura

    • Kameo Uchiyamada

      Kameo Uchiyamada

      Subordinate

      Uchiyamada worked on the development of the second-generation Crown under Nakamura, and became chief engineer of the third generation.

    • Tatsuo Hasegawa

      Tatsuo Hasegawa

      Subordinate

      Hasegawa and other subordinates opposed the rear-hinged rear doors of the first-generation Crown on safety grounds, but Nakamura stubbornly pushed through their adoption.

    Profile

    Graduated from Nagaoka Higher Technical School in 1934. Chief engineer of the first- and second-generation Crown.

    Translated from Japanese sources.

    Toyota engineers

    All Toyota engineers